Recommended for anybody who enjoys the Choose Your Own Adventure genre, and especially for kids who enjoy science fiction.

This handy 3 volume cross-cultural reference of sexuality around the world is truly one of a kind. No sex researcher or educator should be without this impressive set.

Furthermore, any sex therapist who has an international client base (or who works in a culturally-diverse city) will find this reference set essential to their work.

Bravo to Francoeur and Company!

William J. Taverner

Editor, Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Human Sexuality

The book: The first three chapters are brief and take only 24 pages to set the context. Chapter 1 introduces ISO 9000 as an international standard, discusses the relationship between 9001 and 9000-3, and gives good advice on the semantics of 9001's "shalls" and 9000-3's "shoulds". The next chapter provides an overview of software engineering and key elements in which 9000-3 will support. Chapter 3 discusses theory, concept, interpretation and critique of ISO 9000-3.

Chapter 4 comprehensively covers scope and overview, and provides a framework for the rest of the book. The key areas discussed in this chapter are the quality system framework, life cycle activities and supporting activities. Taken together these areas encompass ISO 9000-3. Chapters 5 through 23 are each devoted to a single area, giving you sufficient detail to understand the issues and factors. What I like most is the way the authors skillfully describe the contents of ISO 9000-3 guidelines in a readable manner without introducing ambiguity. Making specifications readable without introducing fuzziness or uncertainty is one of the most difficult aspects of technical writing and the authors manage this well.

An added bonus, and the reason I like this book so much, is the quality handbook that is provided in chapter 24. Including the eleven attachments, each of which in an invaluable artifact itself, this chapter is 50 pages in length (about 20% of the book), and serves as one of the best examples of a quality manual you'll find.

So, why even bother? First, you do not need to pursue ISO 9001 registration to benefit from this book (and if you are, you need to get a book on the ISO 9000:2000 version to get up-to-speed). If you are using the capability maturity model as a goal, the procedures given in this book map nicely to CMM process areas and practices. Moreover, in the "e" world where supply chain management is one of the current buzz words, the focus of 9000-3 might be a good fit into your operational posture (whether as a developer/integrator or service provider) because ISO 9000-3 is slanted towards the customer-supplier relationship, whereas the CMM is more concerned with suppliers. The real reason, however, for using 9000-3 guidelines is they will assure you of attaining repeatability in all of your key processes related to applications or service delivery, and will lay the foundation for any additional quality paradigm or framework you deploy in the future.

For each symbol a scriptural reading is suggested, a short reflection is given as is a final prayer.

Symbols include: the Jesse tree, the birth of life, Adam and Eve, Noah and the flood, Father Abraham, Isaac and the ram, Jacob and his dream, a symbol of prophecy, Jospeh and his coat, Moses and the law, the blessing of Aaron, Samuel and the Word of the Lord, David, symbol of shepherds, the wisdom of Solomon, Elijah and the Raven, Elisha and healing, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah the builder, angels, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Virgin Mary, Magnificat, the birth of John the Baptizer, Joseph of Nazareth, the symbol of Bethlehem and the birth of the Lord.

My only quibble with the list is that, in keeping with the geneology of Matthew, I would like to see Ruth included.

I have yet to meet a 6 year old who's not heard of Jack and the Beanstalk. But, what happened to the giant after Jack took his gold and his beloved hen (goose)?

Jack was a thief, but Jim is a delightful young man who wants nothing more than to help the poor, pessimistic giant he's encountered.

This is a heartwarming story which can be extended by both parents and teachers to enrich a child's understanding and acceptence of others.